User Guide

Scientific Constants and Element Properties
Computations often require not only units (see Units (page 97)), but also the
values of scientific constants, including properties of elements and their
isotopes. Maple supports computations with scientific constants. You can
use the built-in constants and add custom constants.
Overview of Scientific Constants and Element Properties
The ScientificConstants package provides the values of constant physical
quantities, for example, the velocity of light and the atomic weight of sodium.
The ScientificConstants package also provides the units for the constant
values, allowing for greater understanding of the equation as well as unit-
matching for error checking of the solution.
The quantities available in the ScientificConstants package are divided into
two distinct categories.
• Physical constants
• Chemical element (and isotope) properties
Scientific Constants
Maple contains many built-in scientific constants, which you can easily in-
clude in your computations.
List of Scientific Constants
You have access to scientific constants important in engineering, physics,
chemistry, and other fields. Table 3.5 lists some of the supported constants.
For a complete list of scientific constants, refer to the ?ScientificCon-
stants/PhysicalConstants help page.
3.5 Units, Scientific Constants, and Uncertainty • 105